John Dean

Seven sets new records with a massive Rugby League World Cup Semi-Final weekend Men’s Rugby League World Cup Semi-Final 2 Sunday, Australia v Samoa the most watched RLWC match ever, reaches 3.68 million Men’s Rugby League World Cup Semi-Final Saturday, New Zealand v Tonga reaches, 2.84 million Women’s Rugby League World Cup Semi Final Sunday, Australia v Fiji, biggest ever women’s RLWC audience, reaches 1.81 million The Seven Network’s coverage of the Rugby League World Cup Semi-Finals broke audience records across the weekend on broadcast and streaming, with the most watched men’s and women’s World Cup matches ever recorded, as well as the most streamed international rugby league game. Australia’s win over Samoa on Sunday evening reached a massive 3.68 million and had an average audience of 2.05 million, making it the most watched RLWC match ever. The match also had an audience of 733,000 on 7plus, making it the largest streaming audience for a RLWC game and for an international rugby league game. Sunday night’s women’s match, Australia v Fiji, was the most watched women’s RLWC game ever, reaching 1.81 million with an average audience of 903,000. The match had 241,000 viewers on 7plus. New Zealand’s win over Tonga was the most watched program on Saturday night, reaching 2.84 million with an average audience of 1.47 million. The match was viewed by 531,000 on 7plus. Both men’s Semi Finals matches, Saturday’s New Zealand v Tonga and Sunday’s Australia v Samoa, won all demos, 25 to 54’s, 16 to 39’s and grocery shoppers. Seven Network Head of Rugby League World Cup, Lesley Tapsall said: “It's been an incredible weekend for rugby league, with audiences right across the country turning to Seven in record numbers for two exhilarating semi-finals between Australia and Samoa and the Jillaroos and Fiji. “To see the men's semi-final reach more than two million Australians, setting a new record for the biggest audience ever for a Rugby League World Cup match, is an extraordinary result,” she said. “The women's semi-final was another landmark moment, with our Jillaroos taking on Fiji in front of a record-breaking 902,000 viewers – the biggest audience ever for a women's Rugby League World Cup match. “These numbers reflect the incredible appetite for international rugby league and the growing interest in both the men's and women's games. We're incredibly proud to deliver these moments to Australians live and free, and there's still so much more to come on Seven this week. “The wheelchair semi-final action continues tomorrow from 5.00pm, with France taking on Ireland before England face Australia, as our national wheelchair side looks to secure its place in Friday’s final. Both matches will be live and free on 7mate and 7plus, building towards the all-important final at 7.30pm AEDT Friday.” “Then Australians can tune into what promises to be a huge Sunday, with the women's and men's Rugby League World Cup Finals, both against New Zealand. To have both titles decided in one massive double-header, from 3.30pm live and free only on Seven and 7plus, is a fantastic way to finish the tournament. We cannot wait.” Seven’s Semi-Finals coverage was led by 7Sport hosts, Mel McLaughlin and Matt White, Sunrise co-host Matt Shirvington and The Agenda Setters: Rugby League host Corey Parker.

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The Perth Bears are preparing a mega-offer for Matt Burton, worth up to $5 million over five years. The minimum is four years from 2028, with a fifth season if he's released by the Bulldogs to join Perth in 2027. The Bears see him as a running five-eighth alongside former teammate Toby Sexton. (via Dean Ritchie, Code Sports)